Michigan Monday is up over at the OZone

Submitted by Former_DC_Buck on
I know some of you find Gerd's take informative if sometimes a little too snarky. If you get by the title and the first paragraph, he spends much of the rest of the article pointing out how the loss is different.
The difference between last year and this year, however, is that there are actually positives, and — unlike a year ago — quitting was never on the table for the Wolverines Thursday night. When Brady Hoke looked frustrated on the sideline it was because he had absolutely no answers. When Jim Harbaugh looked frustrated in this game, it was because he knew the answers, but they never presented themselves in the multiple choice options he was given.
http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/All-Sports/All-Seasons/News/Michigan-Mon…

Njia

September 7th, 2015 at 1:32 PM ^

I mean, seriously; it's like watching Let's Make a Deal and Monty Hall says, "Don't open Door Number Three. There is nothing but a big ugly guy wearing scarlet and gray who can only communicate in grunts and whistles."

Naturally, you think he's joking, so you open up Door Number Three and find the typical comment section on a Buckeye fan site. So, really, you kind of had it coming.

Maizen

September 7th, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^

He echoed a lot fo what I said about the defense on Sunday:

 

The Wolverines held Utah to 337 yards of total offense, which roughly half of last year's opponents did as well. So while the Michigan defense looked impressive, how much of it was because Utah just isn't that good? 

Maizen

September 7th, 2015 at 6:14 PM ^

I'm failing to see where I or Michigan Monday disputed any of those things. I think it's clear based on last year Utah's offense is solid but average.

Gerdman does a great job with Michigan Monday IMO. Just because he's and OSU fan doesn't mean he isn't right or provide good analysis. Why are you so upset? Good lord.

M-Dog

September 7th, 2015 at 2:03 PM ^

Gerd is not "OSU" in the homer sense when he does these articles.  His take is pretty matter-of-fact, and if you have read his stuff for years, pretty accurate.

He throws a few snarks in there for the home Buckeye crowd, but you can tell it's after he's done his real analysis. 

He interjects a little reality into our own homer tendencies, by pointing out gems like half the teams that Utah played last year held them to the same yardage or less that we did.  It brings some perspective to statements we make like "the defense played well, the problems were just on offense."  No, the defense just played average.

 

EGD

September 7th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^

A couple good ones in the article:

"[Harbaugh managing M's offense] is like trying to take the SATs with a peanut butter sandwich instead of a pencil. No, you’re never going to pass the test, but gosh darn it if the majority of correct answers don’t have peanut butter smeared all over them."

Ronnie Kaye

September 8th, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^

All-time series edge as a trump card has become a very sad route too many Michigan fans go down nowadays. It's not terribly relevant compared to the here and now.

LSAClassOf2000

September 7th, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^

An inconsistent offense is a great way to waste a good defense by the way, and few programs have been more wasteful in that regard than the University of Michigan. Offensive lines get better as they play with each other, but you wouldn't know it by watching the Michigan offense.

I feel like there is a lot of last year in this statement, which is fine because you've only got one game from this season to write about and we're talking about mostly the same personnel. Still, I feel like there was a lot to like even about the OL performance on Thursday, enough to make me think we'll see incremental improvements throughout the season.

Dawkins

September 7th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^

Agree somewhat. Pass pro was much improved. The line opened some nice holes that the RBs just missed. Kalis is and will remain our weakest link. For as long as he remains our starting RG, we will continue to be vulnerable there.

Former_DC_Buck

September 7th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^

I think he is selling the potential improvement in the line short. If that turns out to be the case, he will admit it in later columns. He's pretty self effacing if you read him regularly, but I completely understand why folks here would not. He's actually been getting some radio time here on the CBS Sports affiliate.

BayWolves

September 8th, 2015 at 10:51 AM ^

I actually think we will see a couple big evolutionary leaps this year and if you consider pass protection, we probably have seen one already. No sacks given up is huge, even if we assume Utah is not the best blitzing team. You could see a definite technique change leading to better results. I am sure the running game will see similar improvement after two or three more games. A big jump flowed by more incremental yet steady improvement. I am very optimistic.



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Muttley

September 8th, 2015 at 9:53 AM ^

We couldn't run the ball, but still we would have won had their QB thrown the INTs instead of ours.

A safe offense, a good-and-improving defense*, and Harbaugh's continual search for one-percent improvements will turn this into a successful season.  Not a curb-stomping season, but rather one with a lot of hard-fought victories.

*Peppers didn't play so well in coverage, but surely that is some low-hanging fruit for improvement given his athletic ability.

saveferris

September 8th, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^

Utah is going to be the third best team we play this season and we pretty much played them even and could have easily beat them had a few plays gone our way.  I think we're all going to feel a lot better after we play the Oregon State game this weekend.